I have never found visible light devices to be of great help on adults. Many neonatal and pediatric nurses have success with using them on small arms. This type relies on transillumination and a thick arm does not lend itself to this very easily. Plus room has to be darkened. Near infrared light shows veins down to a tissue depth of 1 cm, will help you identify veins, bifurcations, valves, tortuosity. Skill is still required to make the venipuncture as merely seeing the venous pathway will not allow the inserter to have first stick success unless they have good venipuncture skills. Near infrared light can also help you assess the sites for blood in the tissue during dwell, helping to identify an infiltration sooner. This step requires scanning the site and is not a continuous monitor.
Check out the Novarix web site www.novarix.com there are lots of articles and videos to help you see how technology can help you assess and find those vessels that are not visable to the nacked eye or palpable by the fingers. THis is why technology is recomended to help with the assemment to find the best vein to deilver the teatment needed withthe best size of device.
Consider the enviromment that you will be using the device and the experince/ confidence of the staff.
If you can not see a vessel that is suitable with NIR - Near infra red then you need to escalate to a more experinced person and /or untrasound which is designed to look deeper.
There are 2 types of light devices - those that use visible light and those that use near infrared light. Which are you asking about or both?
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
Both . . . opinions about advantages and disadv of each type, ease of use, equipment tendency to breakdown, etc. Thanks!
I have never found visible light devices to be of great help on adults. Many neonatal and pediatric nurses have success with using them on small arms. This type relies on transillumination and a thick arm does not lend itself to this very easily. Plus room has to be darkened. Near infrared light shows veins down to a tissue depth of 1 cm, will help you identify veins, bifurcations, valves, tortuosity. Skill is still required to make the venipuncture as merely seeing the venous pathway will not allow the inserter to have first stick success unless they have good venipuncture skills. Near infrared light can also help you assess the sites for blood in the tissue during dwell, helping to identify an infiltration sooner. This step requires scanning the site and is not a continuous monitor.
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
Check out the Novarix web site www.novarix.com there are lots of articles and videos to help you see how technology can help you assess and find those vessels that are not visable to the nacked eye or palpable by the fingers. THis is why technology is recomended to help with the assemment to find the best vein to deilver the teatment needed withthe best size of device.
Consider the enviromment that you will be using the device and the experince/ confidence of the staff.
If you can not see a vessel that is suitable with NIR - Near infra red then you need to escalate to a more experinced person and /or untrasound which is designed to look deeper.
I hope this helps -